What is GIS?

GIS lets you map data and analyze it spatially.

GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems. GIS software allows you to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts (definition from http://www.gis.com/ ).

GIS Software at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor Campus

The University of Michigan has a site license with ESRI for various ArcGIS titles, including ArcGIS for Desktop (including ArcMap), ArcGIS Pro, and ArcGIS Online. Information about installing desktop software is at http://www.itcs.umich.edu/sw-info/gis/arcgis.php

All or most Sites and CAEN computers and many other campus-unit administered machines have ArcGIS for Desktop 10.4.1, ArcGIS Pro 1.1, and QGIS 2.8 installed on them. These can also be accessed remotely through Virtual Sites.